John-Edmonton
Elite Member
Here's the new product from Garrett Metal Detectors. It has great features, often requested by serious users.
https://garrett.com/sport/ace/apex
https://garrett.com/sport/ace/apex
Here's the new product from Garrett Metal Detectors. It has great features, often requested by serious users.
https://garrett.com/sport/ace/apex
From what has been posted the APEX is not waterproof but just water resistant in the rain. The multi frequency has been visited by minelab for years. It seems that Garret still has some serious work to catch up.
From what has been posted the APEX is not waterproof but just water resistant in the rain. The multi frequency has been visited by minelab for years. It seems that Garret still has some serious work to catch up.
.....the Apex certainly isn't an upgraded ACE line of yesteryear. It's all new tech and this is what we've been waiting for.
More features than the Vanquish and Simplex.
Can do a couple of things the Nox 600 can't do.
Now we just have to see the depth test and see how Multi Flex compares to Multi IQ.
If this is Garrett's low line detector they have set the bar. I like where Garrett is headed. I think Garrett absolutely stunned the detecting world introducing their simultaneous multi frequency. Waterproof versions with a few more upgrades will be next.
They've neither created any new technology nor priced their particular combination of features in a way that sets a new (lower) bar. They had to do something to keep the ACE series competitive with the Simplex and Vanquish. It's an overstatement to say the Apex is "all new tech" unless you mean new to the ACE series.
They pushed a few key features from the AT series down to the ACE:
-proportional audio
-5 digit range notch discrimination across all non-ferrous
-built in z link (fast, stable wireless, but limits truly wireless headphone choices)
-ground balancing
Then added features already available from other companies:
-multi freq and select-able single frequency
-five tones
-built in lithium battery
-modern large screen control box
-adjustable iron audio volume
And maintained some general Garrett ACE/AT design characteristics:
- 99 scale broken into segments of no less than 5, but now an even 20 segments of 5 across the entire range.
- S shaft
- Camlocks to adjust staft
- The general characteristic of the audio (pseudo analog is how I think of it)
What seems to be new?
- coil shape?
- connector design maybe?
I would hope it has some more features than the Simplex considering the higher price tag. But, it's not a threat to the Simplex. Multifrquency is just not enough for most people to overlook Simplex's high end appearance, waterproof control box, wireless headphones, and significantly lower price tag. Simplex already has iron audio volume and similar notch descrimination. They can release other coils.
The Apex is a clear threat to the top two Vanquish models, partly due to the selectable single frequencies, but more due to Garrett's marketing and loyal made-in-USA following. People prioritizing multi-freq mode over all other features can get that for much less in the lower priced Vanquish models, and not worry about killing a 500-600 dollar machine if they accidentally dunk it.
Can you be specific?
Indeed. The devil is in the details. The interplay between audio characteristics and detection technology is what serious hunters want to experience and learn. It's not as simple as saying "We've got multi-frequency!" It comes down to how the software weights, processes, and outputs signals from the multi frequency input, and whether the audio characteristics of the machine (and other options) make the most of it.
I concede up front that such subtle differences can be so situation specific that it's useless to debate. Most people won't dig enough targets to ever make a valid comparison, much less know if it ever would have mattered to their specific goals.
I like the idea of their viper coil, and think it could cover A LOT of situations. But, there are no free lunches. From a pure depth standpoint you can't get around the limitations of a 6" wide coil. Multi frequency should get the most out of it, and people with highly mineralized soil and/or poor "deep hunting" technique won't notice a difference anyway.
Except, it's not Garrett's low line detector. They have multiple ACE models below it and have priced the Apex out of the entry level detector range. The only bar they've set is what they're willing to offer (and not offer) for 500 dollars.
I'm not shocked at all that it has multi frequency. I would have been shocked had they set the bar at 550 dollars for a waterproof multi freq machine with wireless headphones. That would have meant dropping the price on the AT Maxx, discontinuing the Pro and Gold. Then, challenging themselves to develop something within two years that's worthy of a 700-1000 dollar price tag.
Instead, if they can't come up with something extraordinary in the next year or so they can fall back on charging 750 for a waterproof version of the Apex with a few extra user adjustable parameters, call it the Apex AT and discontinue the rest of the AT series.
Just to be clear, I think it looks like a good detector for the price tag. I also think a used AT series detector is a great value. Either one will find tons of stuff and fit the needs of a lot of people depending on whether they want to prioritize waterproof or multi-frequency. They won't have to upgrade until they want both and/or want more user adjustable parameters.[/QUOTE
They've neither created any new technology Wrong. Multi Flex is new technology. If it was Multi IQ then there would be a copyright infringement. There is a reason Garrett and Minelab have exclusive proprietary rights to their technology.
-built in z link (fast, stable wireless, but limits truly wireless headphone choices) Z Lynk is faster than Bluetooth. Don't see the issue here.
They can release other coils. (Simplex) Great. Buy another coil and how much does that increase the price ? The concept of the Viper coil is brilliant
People prioritizing multi-freq mode over all other features can get that for much less in the lower priced Vanquish models MF is a huge plus. There are times when single frequency is better. Having the ability to do both makes it a better value than the Vanquish.
Can you be specific? Nox 600 has 3 selectable single frequencies. Apex has 4. Nox 600 doesn't have proportional audio. Apex does.
From a pure depth standpoint you can't get around the limitations of a 6" wide coil. How do you know until you've tried one. After all, it's a new coil with new technology. How much do you know about the Multi Flex ? How does it work ? How is it tuned with the coil ?
Good competition creates good products/price. It's a good things for us. I'm looking forward to see the comparison between the Apex and the Equinox 800
1. Wrong. Multi Flex is new technology. If it was Multi IQ then there would be a copyright infringement. There is a reason Garrett and Minelab have exclusive proprietary rights to their technology.
2. built in z link (fast, stable wireless, but limits truly wireless headphone choices) Z Lynk is faster than Bluetooth. Don't see the issue here.
3. Buy another coil and how much does that increase the price ? The concept of the Viper coil is brilliant
4. There are times when single frequency is better. Having the ability to do both makes it a better value than the Vanquish.
5. Nox 600 has 3 selectable single frequencies. Apex has 4. Nox 600 doesn't have proportional audio. Apex does.
6. How do you know until you've tried one. After all, it's a new coil with new technology. How much do you know about the Multi Flex ? How does it work ? How is it tuned with the coil ?
I believe Garrett had those two machines in mind to compete with this release. Much more "Bang" for the buck. And, Garrett can now build even better metal detectors, based on this new platform. It's nice to see a home grown company take risks, sink a lot of money into R&D and come out with yet another new product to stifle the competition.
Speaking strictly as a salt water hunter.
Garrett has the AT series that can take a dunk, but can not handle salt water detecting
Now they have a multi frequency machine in the Apex that can handle salt water detecting but can not take a dunk.
As a salt water hunter..
I'll stay with the Nox